A couple of years ago whilst on holiday in Riva Del Garda we took a day trip out to Limone. Taking the ferry across Lake Garda from Malcesine to Limone is a boat trip well worth doing – the scenery is breath taking!
Limone is the Italian word for lemon and this part of the shoreline Lake Garda once renowned for growing lemons and other citrus fruits.
Unfortunately, now though a lot of the fruit comes from southern Italy and Sicily where temperatures are more reliable for growth and fruit is cheaper to be imported into the region.
Limoncello is in fact a Sicilian recipe from over 100 years ago, it is a blend of vodka, lemons and sugar.
At the centre of the old town is the little harbour, the Porto Vecchio (Old Port). This is where the ferries dock approximately every 30 minutes.
Limone is a small town with quite steep narrow streets and it can get pretty busy in peak season. It has a wide variety of shops selling a variety of good i.e. shoes, handbags, jewellery, artwork and of course lemon based products including a wide selection of Limoncello.
To get away from the shops there are pleasant and picturesque waterfront terraces with cafes to eat and drink and admire the spectacular views of the lake.
This is where we discovered the Limoncello Spritz. It’s an alternative to the Aperol Spritz, but with a much fresher taste.
The recipe is a very simple but effective to make. We have used Limoncello from Limone, but have since bought it from local supermarkets which usually have it in stock.
Limoncello Spritz has a taste of strong lemonade – so be aware!
Cin Cin